West Clare

ONE of Munster’s fastest growing waste management service providers, Cree-based Clean Ireland Recycling has recently invested €700,000 in the purchase of two specially commissioned collection trucks, the only ones of their kind in Europe.The trucks are unique in that they come complete with four separate compartments to cater for the collection of separate recycling, brown bin (food waste) and general-waste bins, as well as a separate compartment for used clothes. Standard trucks in operation in Ireland have just one compartment, with two-compartment vehicles also more evident in recent times.The Clean Ireland 26-tonne capacity recycling trucks were co-designed by in-house Clean Ireland Recycling engineers and engineers from Griffith J Roberts Engineers, who supply the bodies for refuse trucks and Swedish-based Scania engineers. They were purchased from the Scania dealers in Castleisland, County Kerry.Founded in 1990 by the O’Donoghue family in Cree, Clean Ireland now employs 100 people in Cree, Ennis, Shannon and Limerick City.Clean Ireland Recycling financial controller, Caroline Walsh said …

A FIGURE of €19,500 was raised at the Strictly Come Dancing event held in the Armada Hotel, Spanish Point last Saturday night. Such was the interest in the fundraiser, which was held to raise money for Doonbeg charity, Help the Cherven Orphans, long queues formed outside the hotel more than an hour before the 8pm start. In fact, hundreds of people had to return home as they were unable to gain access due to the huge attendance.Edel Smith from Doonbeg runs the charity and is aiming to build a halfway house for teenagers and young adults in Cherven, Belarus with the proceeds. The charity has been working with orphans in Cherven for 10 years.Eleven couples danced twice apiece, while all 22 dancers took part in a group dance at the start and end of the event. Eoin Conway and Eva Keane gave a demonstration of brush dancing during the interval.All dancers displayed an imagination and athleticism that left the audience …

DOONBEG One-Act Drama Festival adjudicator, Paul Brennan announced the winners of the confined and open section in Doonbeg hall on Monday night. The three-night festival started last Saturday and concluded on Monday. Three acts participated each night.Corofin Dramatic Society won the confined section with What’s for Pudding? followed by Blue Hat Drama Group with Melody and Amphitheatre Company, Kilkee with Two for a Girl.Eileen Lahiffe, Corofin, won the best director category, with best actor going to Peter Daffy as Jack in What’s for Pudding? The best actress award went to Margaret Whelan as Josie Connors in Two for a Girl.Three In One Drama Group won the open section with The Dumb Waiter, with Insight Theatre Group second with A Life Sentence.Jackie O’Shea of Three In One Drama Group won best director, with best actor going to Martin Blower as Ben in The Dumb Waiter. Helena Stout won best actress for her depiction of Anne Bailey in A Life Sentence.

FIVE senior gardaí who work in the Kilrush Garda division are due to retire by next February. The retirements of Charlie Killeen (Carrigaholt), Michael Ryan (Labasheeda), John O’Brien (Doonbeg), Brendan Burke (Kildysart) and Mick Kenneally (Kilmihil) come on top of the retirement of six additional Kilrush area gardaí this year and in 2010.

THE 14th annual West Clare Mini-Marathon will be held on Sunday, January 29 from Doonbeg to Kilkee. In the coming weeks, registration evenings will be held in Coolmeen, Kildysart and Miltown Malbay.

A new buffer zone removing restrictions from carrying out work near a protected bird sanctuary will have to be provided to facilitate maintenance on the West Clare Railway.

Plans for a new playground costing an estimated €80,000 in the middle of the picturesque Loop Head Peninsula have been unveiled by a local community group.

KILKEE Town Council doesn’t want a site close to the local GAA grounds to retain a residential zoning.